In memoriam: Alex Kirlik, CS professor

Alex Kirlik, Professor Emeritus of computer science died Oct. 8, 2025 at age of 64. Kirlik earned his B.S. and M.S. in industrial and systems engineering from Ohio State University and in 1989, he obtained his Ph.D. Kirlik joined the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign engineering faculty in 2002 and was a researcher at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology for over 20 years. 

Kirlik’s research interests included human-computer interaction, human-automation interaction and decision support in sociotechnical systems such as aviation, space, intelligence analysis, severe weather forecasting, disaster and emergency response, and more. He previously served as acting head of Illinois’ human factor program in the Institute of Aviation from 2006 to 2010.

He played a key role in building our Interactive Computing research area into the powerhouse it is today. His world-renowned research program in human-computer interaction, human factors, and cognitive science & engineering focused on understanding and supporting the cognition (judgment, decision making, prediction, problem solving, and system control) of professionals working in technological workplaces, operational contexts, and sociotechnical systems.—Nancy Amato, Siebel School of Computing and Data Science Director in a letter to faculty and staff

Research Professor & Michael Faiman Professor Emeritus, Marc Snir, was the department head who welcomed Kirlik to Illinois Computer Science. Snir recalls that "the University closed the School of Aviation, and faculty members in their school looked for new homes. Alex had a strong reputation for his work on Human Factors, and we were expanding the Computer Human Interface area, so it was a good fit."

CS Professor Brian Bailey says, "Alex studied and developed models of judgement and decision-making in ecologically valid situations such as when a person is stressed, or working in a team or with complex systems. What I admired most about Alex’s research program was that he valued a strong theoretical foundation for a research idea and then testing that idea in real-world contexts. This is hard because these two goals are often in tension, yet Alex would develop creative approaches to accomplish these goals."

 "A big takeaway for me from Alex’s academic career is valuing deep scholarship. He often remarked that researchers are governed by the human performance curve: we can perform research tasks well, or we can perform the tasks fast. Alex chose to perform them well. "—Brian Bailey, Siebel School of Computing and Data Science Professor

As a researcher, Kirlik contributed much of his explorations to improving commercial aviation safety in both airborne and ground operations and had been supported by NASA for more than 25 years. As a professor, Kirlik’s teaching was research-integrated, collaborative, and experiential and he encouraged students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world challenges.

Kirlik received many awards throughout his career. His most notable award being for his NASA-supported Ph.D. thesis "The organization of perception and action in complex control skills" which earned the George Briggs Award from APA's Division of Applied Experimental and Engineering Psychologists, as the best dissertation of the year.

Professor Kirlik is to be remembered not only for his research and contributions to The Grainger College of Engineering Siebel School of Computing and Data Science, but also for his impact as a teacher and mentor. Through his work, he leaves behind a legacy in the fields of computer science and industrial and systems engineering. 

Bailey called Alex Kirlik "a world-renowned scholar in the field of human factors, and a wonderful colleague and mentor who was committed to the success of his students."

"In addition to his many research contributions," Amato wrote, "Alex was very passionate about teaching."